Method, apparatus and system for lining conduits

Abstract

A method for inverting a tubular liner in a hollow conduit involves: forming a cuff from the tubular liner, the cuff having an opening through which the liner is fed; and while feeding the liner through the cuff opening, feeding a gas under pressure through a gas inlet port formed in the liner to a space between the cuff and the remainder of the liner, thereby causing inversion and inflation of the liner into and through the conduit. After a portion of the liner has been inverted in the conduit, a region of the cuff and liner upstream of the gas inlet port is sealed off, thereby causing inversion of the remainder of the liner in the conduit. Optionally, before a trailing end of the liner is fed through the opening of the cuff, the trailing end is sealed to prevent flow of gas therefrom. When the liner is intended to line the conduit, the liner resin-impregnated either outside or in the conduit and, after complete inversion of the liner in the conduit, the resin is cured and the ends of the liner are sealed to the inside surfaces of the conduit. An apparatus and system for conducting the method are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for inverting a liner in a passageway, the system comprising:
 an apparatus disposed outside of a passageway, the passageway having a first access point and a second access point, the apparatus for inverting a portion of a liner and including members disposed on either side of the liner; 
 a connector attached to a portion of the liner disposed outside of the passageway, the connector through which one or more of air or fluid flows, and the members brought together to seal off any loss of one or more of air or fluid through the connector upstream the connector; and 
 a control valve and a hose disposed at the second access point of the passageway, the hose attached to a second end of the liner when the second end of the liner is disposed within the passageway below the second access point of the passageway; 
 one or more of air or fluid is supplied through the connector, the liner is pushed through the first access point of the passageway to the second access point of the passageway, and an opening of the apparatus can be adjusted, which can slow or speed up the process of inverting the liner through and into the passageway and, after inversion of the liner has been completed, operation of the control valve restricts the flow of one or more of air or fluid through the liner at the second end of the liner. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , the control valve comprising a standard gate valve, and the hose comprising a high temperature and reinforced pressure hose. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , the hose providing a seal between the liner and the control valve. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an opening of the apparatus is an entrance point of the apparatus. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is attached to a portion of the liner after a first few feet of the liner is exposed inside out from an exit point of the apparatus. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of air of fluid is supplied through the connector with the apparatus in a closed position. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising an entrance and an exit point, wherein the liner is drawn through the entrance to allow the first few feet of the liner to be exposed inside out from the exit point of the apparatus.